Kid Dynamite 1976

Ken Kelly's 'Kid Dynamite' presents a figure forged in the crucible of comic book fantasy. Kelly's earthy palette isn't afraid to get its hands dirty, mixing ochre, brown, and grey in a way that feels like a walk through a gritty dystopian landscape. The paint application is direct, without fuss. It's the kind of handling that acknowledges the canvas as a battleground for ideas, where each brushstroke is a move in a complex game. Look at the way Kelly renders the light catching the edge of Kid Dynamite's shield, the way the white paint is laid on thick, yet somehow melts into the surrounding tones. There's a feeling of immediacy there, like the artist is grabbing the light right out of the air. Kelly always reminded me of Frazetta in that way, they shared a love of muscular figures and dramatic dynamism. What's great about art is that there's always more than one way to read it, and that's something to celebrate.